Murray Oliver’s Hat Trick Sparks Bruins Past Maple Leafs in 1961

Murray Oliver’s early days in Boston were anything but smooth. Acquired from the Detroit Red Wings late in the 1960-61 season, Oliver arrived with promise after scoring 20 goals in just 54 games as an NHL rookie. But his production dipped the following year, and by the start of the 1961-62 campaign, confidence was clearly being tested.

Through his first 32 games with the Bruins that season, Oliver had managed only three goals. Enter December 23, 1961, a road date against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens and a night that would change the narrative.

Oliver opened the scoring at 8:31 of the first period, beating Johnny Bower with help from Johnny Bucyk and Leo Boivin. It was an early spark that set the tone for Boston. Late in the second period, he struck again, scoring his fifth goal of the season at 18:47 with rookie Ed Westfall earning the assist. The tally sent the Bruins into the intermission holding a commanding 5-1 lead.

Toronto pushed back hard in the third period. Goals from Dick Duff, Frank Mahovlich, and George Armstrong cut the Bruins’ advantage to 6-4 and briefly brought the Gardens crowd to life. But Oliver wasn’t finished.

With just 1:16 remaining, he completed his hat trick with an unassisted goal at 18:44, sealing a 7-4 Bruins victory. Earlier, Oliver had also set up Bucyk for a goal, giving him a four-point night. Bucyk and Don McKenney followed closely with three points apiece.

In goal, Don Head delivered one of his strongest performances of the season, stopping 38 of 42 shots and repeatedly frustrating Toronto shooters. Bower, meanwhile, endured a rough outing, surrendering seven goals on just 28 shots.

Special teams played a quiet but decisive role. Only five minor penalties were called, yet Boston capitalized twice on three power-play chances, both opportunities coming while Bob Pulford served time in the penalty box.

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When the Canucks Finally Posted a Zero: Dunc Wilson’s Historic 1971 Shutout

The Vancouver Canucks spent their inaugural 1970-71 NHL season knocking on the door of history, but a shutout always seemed just out of reach. Eleven times that year, Vancouver held opponents to a single goal, yet the franchise’s first clean sheet never came. That milestone finally arrived early in the 1971-72 season.

On October 27, 1971, at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, Canucks goaltender Dunc Wilson etched his name into team history by recording the first shutout in Vancouver Canucks history. The performance came in a tense, scoreless 0-0 tie, fittingly against one of the era’s premier netminders, Bernie Parent.

Wilson was sensational, turning aside all 34 Toronto shots. Jim Dorey led the Maple Leafs’ attack with six shots, while Paul Henderson and Mike Pelyk chipped in five apiece. Time and again, Wilson stood firm, frustrating a Toronto club that controlled much of the play.

At the other end, Bernie Parent was equally sharp but faced a lighter workload, stopping 20 Canucks shots to preserve the draw for Toronto.

The shutout marked the first of eight in Dunc Wilson’s NHL career. Two of those came with Vancouver, while he also recorded one with the Maple Leafs. His finest season came in 1976-77 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, when Wilson posted five shutouts in 45 games, the best total of his career.

For Bernie Parent, the night represented his first of three shutouts with Toronto during the 1971-72 season and the 12th of his NHL career. Parent would go on to record 54 career shutouts, earning a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame following a legendary run with the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

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Pat Hickey’s Five-Point Night Sinks Tony Esposito At MSG

On November 15, 1978, the Chicago Blackhawks rolled into Madison Square Garden to face the New York Rangers, and left with very little to show for it. While another famous kid from Brantford was still lighting up the WHA at the time, it was Pat Hickey, also born in Brantford, Ontario, who stole the spotlight in New York.

Hickey wasted no time making his presence felt. Just 1:03 into the opening period, he beat Tony Esposito for his first of the night, with assists from Ulf Nilsson and Carol Vadnais. Less than five-and-a-half minutes later, Vadnais added a shorthanded goal of his own. Then, only 41 seconds after that, Hickey set up Anders Hedberg to give the Rangers a commanding 3-0 lead.

The Rangers kept pouring it on. Hickey struck again at 16:56 of the second period, once more assisted by Nilsson, along with Ron Greshner, to make it 5-0. In a rare brother-versus-brother moment, Phil Esposito scored on his older brother Tony at 6:24 of the third period, pushing the lead to 6-0.

Before the night was done, Hickey completed his hat trick, scoring his third goal of the game and seventh of the 1978-79 NHL season. He also added another assist on a goal by Nilsson, finishing the night with a five-point performance.

The Rangers’ top line was unstoppable. Hickey, Nilsson, and Hedberg combined for 13 points in the blowout win. Nilsson recorded one goal and four assists, while Hedberg chipped in with a goal and two helpers. Hickey led all skaters with six shots on goal, while Tony Esposito faced 39 shots overall. At the other end of the ice, John Davidson turned aside 32 of 33 shots to seal the victory for New York.

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